1 A fter this, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his stead.

And it cometh to pass after this, that Nahash king of the sons of Ammon dieth, and his son reigneth in his stead,

2 D avid said, I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father’s death. So the servants of David came into the land of the Ammonites to comfort Hanun.

and David saith, `I do kindness with Hanun son of Nahash, for his father did with me kindness;' and David sendeth messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And the servants of David come in unto the land of the sons of Ammon, unto Hanun, to comfort him,

3 B ut the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, Do you think that David has sent comforters to you because he honors your father? Have his servants not come to you to search, to overthrow, and to spy out the land?

and the heads of the sons of Ammon say to Hanun, `Is David honouring thy father, in thine eyes, because he hath sent to thee comforters? in order to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out, the land, have not his servants come in unto thee?'

4 T herefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle near their buttocks, and sent them away.

And Hanun taketh the servants of David, and shaveth them, and cutteth their long robes in the midst, unto the buttocks, and sendeth them away.

5 W hen David was told how the men were served, he sent to meet them, for were greatly shamed and embarrassed. The king said, Stay in Jericho until your beards are grown, and then return.

And go, and declare to David concerning the men, and he sendeth to meet them -- for the men have been greatly ashamed -- and the king saith, `Dwell in Jericho till that your beard is grown, then ye have returned.'

6 W hen the Ammonites saw that they had made themselves hateful to David, Hanun and sent 1, 000 talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia and Aram-maacah and Zobah.

And the sons of Ammon see that they have made themselves abhorred by David, and Hanun and the sons of Ammon send a thousand talents of silver, to hire to them, from Aram-Naharaim, and from Aram-Maachah, and from Zobah, chariots and horsemen;

7 S o they hired 32, 000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his troops, who came and pitched before Medeba. And the Ammonites gathered from their cities and came to battle.

and they hire to them two and thirty thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people, and they come in and encamp before Medeba, and the sons of Ammon have been gathered out of their cities, and come in to the battle.

8 W hen David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of mighty men.

And David heareth, and sendeth Joab, and all the host of the mighty men,

9 A nd the Ammonites came out and lined up in battle array before the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

and the sons of Ammon come out and set battle in array at the opening of the city, and the kings who have come by themselves in the field.

10 W hen Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose from all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians.

And Joab seeth that the front of the battle hath been unto him, before and behind, and he chooseth out of all the choice in Israel, and setteth in array to meet Aram,

11 T he rest of the soldiers he delivered to Abishai his brother, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites.

and the remnant of the people he hath given into the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set in array to meet the sons of Ammon.

12 A nd he said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will help you.

And he saith, `If Aram be stronger than I, then thou hast been to me for salvation; and if the sons of Ammon be stronger than thou, then I have saved thee;

13 B e of good courage and let us behave ourselves courageously for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight.

be strong, and we strengthen ourselves, for our people, and for the cities of our God, and Jehovah doth that which is good in His eyes.'

14 S o Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians for battle, and they fled before him.

And Joab draweth nigh, and the people who with him, before Aram to battle, and they flee from his face;

15 A nd when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, Joab’s brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

and the sons of Ammon have seen that Aram hath fled, and they flee -- they also -- from the face of Abishai his brother, and go in to the city. And Joab cometh in to Jerusalem.

16 W hen the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and drew forth the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head.

And Aram seeth that they have been smitten before Israel, and send messengers, and bring out Aram that beyond the River, and Shophach head of the host of Hadarezer before them.

17 I t was told to David, and he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan and drew up his army against them. So when David set the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

And it is declared to David, and he gathereth all Israel, and passeth over the Jordan, and cometh in unto them, and setteth in array against them; yea, David setteth in array the battle to meet Aram, and they fight with him;

18 B ut the Syrians fled before Israel, and David slew of the Syrians 7, 000 men in chariots and 40, 000 foot soldiers, and killed Shophach the commander of the army.

and Aram fleeth from the face of Israel, and David slayeth of Aram seven thousand charioteers, and forty thousand footmen, and Shophach head of the host he hath put to death.

19 W hen the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him; nor would the Syrians any longer help the Ammonites.

And the servants of Hadarezer see that they have been smitten before Israel, and they make peace with David and serve him, and Aram hath not been willing to help the sons of Ammon any more.